Washington: With increasing number of heart disease patients, experts suggest that cholesterol screening should begin as early as 20 years of age. Cholesterol screening a must for the young.
Cholesterol level is a key indicator of heart-attack risk, which they say, should be rechecked at least once every five years.
According to Dr. Anand Rohatgi, cardiologist with UT Southwestern Medical Center’s program in preventive cardiology, atherosclerosis begins early.
Even young adults and teens can show evidence of atherosclrosis, or hardening of the arteries.
If early screening reveals low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) or moderately high levels of the bad cholesterol (LDL), counseling is provided to help modify lifestyles.
Those who fall into this category should be reevaluated every one or two years.
“Simple measures that can reduce cholesterol levels include decreasing the amount of saturated fat to less than 7 percent of total calories consumed each day,” said Rohatgi.
“Also, increasing the amount of soluble fiber by just 5 to 10 grams daily and limiting cholesterol intake to less than 200 milligrams per day are helpful,” he added.
Bureau Report